Composer

:

Alexander Sergeyevich Taneyev

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Waltz

Compose Date

:

1900

Publication Date

:

1900

Average_duration

:

6:30

Alexander Sergeyevich Taneyev was a Russian composer, pianist, and teacher who lived from 1850 to 1918. He was a student of Tchaikovsky and a close friend of Rachmaninoff. Taneyev's Valse-Caprice No. 2 in D flat major was composed in 1908 and premiered in the same year. The piece is a waltz in the style of Chopin, with a virtuosic and ornate piano part. It is written in D flat major, a key often associated with romantic and sentimental music. The waltz is in 3/4 time and has a moderate tempo, with a tempo marking of Allegro moderato. The piece is divided into three main sections or movements. The first section is marked by a flowing and lyrical melody in the right hand, accompanied by arpeggiated chords in the left hand. The second section is more virtuosic and features rapid runs and arpeggios in both hands. The third section returns to the lyrical melody of the first section, but with added ornamentation and embellishment. One of the characteristics of Taneyev's Valse-Caprice No. 2 is its use of chromaticism, or the use of notes outside of the key signature. This creates a sense of tension and instability, which is resolved in the more stable and consonant sections of the piece. Another characteristic is the use of rubato, or the stretching and compressing of the tempo for expressive purposes. This allows the performer to add their own interpretation and emotion to the piece. Overall, Taneyev's Valse-Caprice No. 2 in D flat major is a virtuosic and romantic waltz that showcases the composer's skill as a pianist and his understanding of the romantic style.

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